Furukawa mentioned in an interview with Nikkei, that he sees at time where Nintendo’s smartphone game division can become a 100 billion yen (which equates to around $910 million) business.

He mentions he wants to launch a singular app that becomes the tent pole of the smartphone gaming line as well as increase the amount of games released for smartphones.

The idea that something will emerge that transforms into something big, in the same manner as game consoles, is the defining motive of the Nintendo business,

Nintendo has also purchased stake in Cygames, which is co-developing a brand new IP with Nintendo called Dragalia Lost: Lost Dragons (click to see the announcement). The game launches later this year on both iOS and Android.

Furukawa explained “first of all, getting on the same page at development sites is key,” when hinting at expanding cooperative ties in the future.

For those who are worried that Nintendo will completely remove itself from its hardware making business, Furukawa quelled those fears by saying that he plans to release the Switch in many more markets. and would like to make the Middle East and Southeast Asia a priority. Currently they will look more into where to release the hybrid console next while keeping an eye on mobile game access as well.

Upon Furukawa taking the reins from Kimishima in June, Kimishima will then move into an advisory role. When asked why Furukawa was chosen to be his successor, Kimishima replied that “He knows how to draw out the potential from development teams, and over the past two years he has created the business foundation for the next generation.”

Furukawa joined Nintendo in 1994, for accounting, then in the mid 2010’s moved to global marketing, the executive department and as an outside director of the Pokemon Company.

He is also fluent in English so we might see him in a lot more directs. Hopefully he will be a part of one or two directs during E3. He was also involved in the development of Switch as well. We also know that he was a huge fan and played the Famicom (NES for everyone else) and the Super Famicom (SNES) when he was younger. He is currently 46 years old.

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